A Guide to Energising Supplements
An increasingly demanding job, family commitments that multiply every year, and so many people we’d like to spend time with but often say no to because we lack the energy.
Energy. Yes, energy. Something that has no physical boundaries and can’t be touched. And yet, when it runs low, we notice straight away. So what do we do when our energy dips? Most of us treat ourselves to, quite literally, “buckets” of coffee. Others, meanwhile (or after realising that coffee isn’t enough), turn their attention to energising supplements.
And this is where our in-depth guide begins. We’ll take a journey through the world of energising supplements and, by the end, you’ll be such an expert that at the first yawn you’ll already know what to do.
In particular, we’ll talk about:
- Energising supplements are not all the same
Low-quality energising supplements
Medium-quality energising supplements
- High-quality energising supplements
- Other supplements for energy
Quite a multi-course menu, isn’t it? So tuck your napkin in and get ready for a real feast of knowledge!
Energising supplements are not all the same
Having established that drinking litres of coffee is not the way to get more energy, you, like so many people every day, have started looking for a little extra strength in natural energising supplements.
And here’s the first catch. Natural energising supplements are not all the same.
We can divide them into low, medium and high quality.
Low-quality energising supplements
Let’s start from the bottom rung. The energising supplements you need to watch out for are those containing coffee, theine, guarana, cola, maté and all other nerve-stimulating substances (stimulants).
What do these ingredients have in common? They will never help you have more energy; instead, they’ll use up what little you have left.
The explanation is simple. These ingredients, based on stimulant alkaloids, serve only to stimulate the nervous system. And you notice their effect because, often, after using them for a while you start to experience palpitations, restlessness, nervousness, difficulty sleeping, ...1
Constantly stimulating the nervous system is never the right solution, because the negative effects can far outnumber the positive ones.
Yes, it’s true, you may feel more “awake”, but it’s a temporary sensation and even this effect will gradually wear off, because the body builds up a tolerance to all stimulants, so you’ll feel the need to take more and more of them in an attempt to keep up their effects.
And the more you consume, the more your nervous system will be stimulated and the more you’ll experience the effects we mentioned earlier. A vicious circle that you’re really better off steering clear of.
Medium-quality energising supplements
Let’s move on to step two.
There are energising supplements that contain no nerve stimulants and rely on other plant extracts for their effect. That in itself is a step forward but, when you read the labels, you realise that the plants making up the product are in the form of micronised powder or simple dry extract.
Bzzzt! (the sound of the red buzzer that lights up when you make a mistake!). Micronised powders and simple dry extracts are the forms of processing you need to watch out for: you really can’t trust them!
You can recognise them because next to the name of the plant you’ll find the wording “Polv. mic.” (micronised powder) or “e.s.” (dry extract).
This type of processing does not guarantee the reliable and consistent presence of the plant’s active ingredient (which is what makes an extract truly effective). In practice, you’re holding a product whose effectiveness you can’t be sure of and, even if it is effective, you don’t know whether its effectiveness will stay consistent over time, even across different packs of the same product (i.e. across different batches)!
Definitely a very risky investment for your batteries, which need a quick, natural recharge. We’ll reveal the best type of processing shortly.
Finally, there’s another thing that low- and medium-quality energising supplements have in common: they come in plastic containers.
Containers made from these materials are very sensitive to heat and, in general, to changes in temperature. What’s more, they are often transported in vehicles that may spend a long time in the sun (and in the heat) before reaching the shelves of the herbalist’s or chemist’s.
In conclusion, the chance that other unwanted plastic substances have transferred onto those capsules is really high. Last but not least, plastic (or blister packs) is extremely polluting!
So: no to nerve stimulants, no to micronised powders or simple dry extracts, no to plastic ... There are lots of things to bear in mind. But when you find a product that rules out all of these, you can be sure you’re holding a truly high-quality energising supplement!
High-quality energising supplements
Let’s get to the heart of the matter. What does a natural energising supplement need to contain to be effective and high-quality? It needs to contain active ingredients that help cells produce energy, and this is only possible by acting on their “power stations”, i.e. the mitochondria and the cytoplasm.
Grab a pen and paper and write down these names:
Spirulina, Ashwagandha, Royal Jelly, Ginseng, Grape Seed and Manganese.
You’ve probably heard of some of them already. Others, on the other hand, will be completely new to you. Let’s get to know them better!
Spirulina
The “non-alga” alga! Spirulina is mistakenly called an alga, but the only thing it has in common with its marine cousins is its outward appearance. In fact, it does not contain iodine in significant amounts and can also be used by people who need to keep an eye on their thyroid. Its main properties are: a high protein content, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. A real treasure trove of nutrients that cells use to produce new energy2.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha, or Withania, is a plant typical of the Indian region and one of the most important remedies in the age-old Ayurvedic tradition, counted among the Rasayana, the natural remedies intended for prolonging human life, for rejuvenation and for maintaining energy3 and the body’s vital functions.
Royal Jelly
A treasure trove of amino acids, resinous substances, potassium, calcium, sodium, zinc, iron, copper and manganese. Excellent for supporting the body during seasonal changes, in periods of stress and work-related strain, including mental strain, in depressive states, during convalescence or periods of hospitalisation, and to counter asthenia4.
Ginseng
Its effect is tonic-adaptogenic. It therefore acts as a natural “modulator”. Its other properties are: supporting the immune, endocrine and nervous systems and sustaining physical and mental capacities, especially when you’re under pressure5.
Grape Seed
If you really want to counter stress and tiredness, you need them on your side: antioxidants! And Grape Seeds are one of the natural substances that contain the most. The antioxidants in Grape Seeds are essential for protecting cells and their functional mechanisms when these are put to the test by conditions of exhaustion and degradation6.
Manganese
A fairly rare trace mineral. It protects cells from oxidative stress and is involved in the metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates and cholesterol. In practice, the system that converts what we eat into energy. It also contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. The result? Much more energy and vitality7.
Each one better than the last, right? And to be truly effective, they must be in the form of a standardised dry extract. Standardised dry extract, abbreviated on the label as “e.s. tit.”, is the only form of plant processing that guarantees that only the active ingredient has been extracted from that plant and concentrated, and that it is always consistent, even between different batches.
Consistency between batches is essential. To achieve high effectiveness (and in this case, more energy), it’s important that the plants’ active ingredients always stay the same over time, in terms of both quality and quantity! And this, of course, applies to all supplements.
It’s also important for the packaging to be bottles made of pharmaceutical-grade dark glass. This avoids the whole issue of possible contamination that we’ve already talked about, and it’s good for the environment!
And you know the best part? To get all this, you only need to remember one word, or rather three: Energea+ New Formula!
Energea+ New Formula by Salugea is the revolutionary natural energising supplement with a specific formula that helps you have energy and vitality and counter stress.
Energea+ New Formula contains all the extracts we’ve looked at together, in the form of standardised dry extracts, and, like all Salugea supplements, it comes in pharmaceutical-grade dark glass bottles.
Thanks to the natural ingredients in Energea+ New Formula:
- you effortlessly complete all the day’s tasks and commitments,
- you reach the evening still mentally sharp and with energy in reserve,
- you stay full of vitality without any “slumps”, like the one after lunch,
- you face daily challenges with focus, determination and motivation,
- you counter stress,
- you say “bye-bye” to tiredness!
Other natural energising supplements
If you’re going through a particularly stressful time and fatigue is setting in fast, you can combine the formula of Energea+ New Formula with those of two other supplements, which will help you regain your get-up-and-go even faster.
We’re talking about Omega 3 Krill Oil and Goji Juice by Salugea.
Omega 3 Krill Oil
Many people know that energy is produced from sugars, but few know that fats also play a leading role in energy production.
Fats are the substances that contain the most energy of all. And if you supplement with essential fatty acids such as Omega 3s, you support their metabolism and therefore energy production.
Omega 3 Krill Oil is the supplement providing Omega 3s of superior quality8, naturally found in the oil of Krill, a small Antarctic shrimp. Omega 3s from Krill Oil have two main characteristics: they are in phospholipid form (so they enter the cell quickly, as its membrane is made of phospholipids, whereas omega 3s from fish oil find it much harder because they are in triglyceride form) 9 and they are naturally free from heavy metals.
Omega 3 Krill Oil is free from the unpleasant fishy aftertaste and comes from environmentally sustainable fishing that does not harm the marine ecosystem (WWF and Greenpeace).
Finally, Omega 3 Krill Oil comes in fish gelatine softgels, unlike most common fish oils, whose softgels are made of bovine gelatine.
Remember the importance of antioxidants? Well, with Goji Juice you literally stock up on them! Goji Juice is an extremely powerful natural antioxidant with an invigorating effect, which provides tone and energy for any activity10. What’s more, Goji Juice by Salugea has a truly delicious flavour, is organic and has no added sugars!
1 Zeidán-Chuliá F, Gelain DP, Kolling EA, Rybarczyk-Filho JL, Ambrosi P, Terra SR, Pires AS, da Rocha JB, Behr GA, Moreira JC. Major components of energy drinks (caffeine, taurine, and guarana) exert cytotoxic effects on human neuronal SH-SY5Y cells by decreasing reactive oxygen species production. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2013;2013:791795. doi: 10.1155/2013/791795. Epub 2013 May 22. PMID: 23766861; PMCID: PMC3674721.
2 Maddiboyina B, Vanamamalai HK, Roy H, Ramaiah, Gandhi S, Kavisri M, Moovendhan M. Food and drug industry applications of microalgae Spirulina platensis: A review. J Basic Microbiol. 2023 Jun;63(6):573-583. doi: 10.1002/jobm.202200704. Epub 2023 Jan 31. PMID: 36720046.
3 Lee DH, Ahn J, Jang YJ, et al. Withania somnifera Extract Enhances Energy Expenditure via Improving Mitochondrial Function in Adipose Tissue and Skeletal Muscle. Nutrients. 2020;12(2):431. Published 2020 Feb 7. doi:10.3390/nu12020431
4 Morita H, Ikeda T, Kajita K, Fujioka K, Mori I, Okada H, Uno Y, Ishizuka T. Effect of royal jelly ingestion for six months on healthy volunteers. Nutr J. 2012 Sep 21;11:77. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-11-77. PMID: 22995464; PMCID: PMC3499288
5 Kim HG, Cho JH, Yoo SR, Lee JS, Han JM, Lee NH, Ahn YC, Son CG. Antifatigue effects of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. PLoS One. 2013 Apr 17;8(4):e61271. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061271. PMID: 23613825; PMCID: PMC3629193
6 Belviranlı M, Gökbel H, Okudan N, Başaralı K. Effects of grape seed extract supplementation on exercise-induced oxidative stress in rats. Br J Nutr. 2012 Jul;108(2):249-56. doi: 10.1017/S0007114511005496. Epub 2011 Oct 20. PMID: 22011589
7 Chen P, Bornhorst J, Aschner M. Manganese metabolism in humans. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2018 Mar 1;23:1655-1679. doi: 10.2741/4665. PMID: 29293455
8 Ulven SM, Kirkhus B, Lamglait A, Basu S, Elind E, Haider T, Berge K, Vik H, Pedersen JI. Metabolic effects of krill oil are essentially similar to those of fish oil but at lower dose of EPA and DHA, in healthy volunteers. Lipids. 2011 Jan;46(1):37-46. doi: 10.1007/s11745-010-3490-4. Epub 2010 Nov 2. PMID: 21042875; PMCID: PMC3024511
9 Köhler A, Sarkkinen E, Tapola N, Niskanen T, Bruheim I. Bioavailability of fatty acids from krill oil, krill meal and fish oil in healthy subjects–a randomized, single-dose, cross-over trial. Lipids Health Dis. 2015 Mar 15;14:19. doi: 10.1186/s12944-015-0015-4. PMID: 25884846; PMCID: PMC4374210
10 Amagase H, Nance DM. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical study of the general effects of a standardized Lycium barbarum (Goji) Juice, GoChi. J Altern Complement Med. 2008;14(4):403-412. doi:10.1089/acm.2008.0004
